Don't let these put you off... my first answer used rather simple combo and by no means they have to be L's! Any general purpose zoom plus one standard lens is a good deal for me. The second post with a listing was simply a joke to follow up on "analogies" post someone started.

The best lens is the one you have mounted and ready to go...not some pie-in-the-sky object that you have to fork out big bucks for. Cheers!

Thanks, Ray2021!You know, even though I wish there were a few Ls in my bag (will get there eventually), I still have a long way to go before it is my lenses, not myself, what is keeping me from taking better pics.I appreciate your concern!

Normally it's the 40mm pancake, just because it so wonderfully small, and I like the focal length for random snapshots.

My next most used is the 100mm L macro. I use it any time I think I'll be shooting people. I'd love to have the 135mm or an 85mm for that, but the macro is still very good - and I can shoot macro when I feel like it.

After that is the 24-105mm, that normally comes with me if I think I'll shoot landscape, or just have really no idea what I'll be shooting, but I want to do something serious.

The lens I use the most is my EF-S 15-85 on my 60D. It has such a nice focal range and since I only own two lenses, my other is the 70-200 F4L IS. I do a lot of Senior Photo shooting and the two lenses are just fantastic. New Problem is that I've gotten into bird shooting and now I will have to get a bigger lens. Darn!

Don't let these put you off... my first answer used rather simple combo and by no means they have to be L's! Any general purpose zoom plus one standard lens is a good deal for me. The second post with a listing was simply a joke to follow up on "analogies" post someone started.

The best lens is the one you have mounted and ready to go...not some pie-in-the-sky object that you have to fork out big bucks for. Cheers!

Thanks, Ray2021!You know, even though I wish there were a few Ls in my bag (will get there eventually), I still have a long way to go before it is my lenses, not myself, what is keeping me from taking better pics.I appreciate your concern!

In January 2012, all I had was the t2i plus kit lenses 18-55 ii and 55-250. Nothing at all impressive in my bag, though I loved the t2i. Regardless of gear limitations, there were many paying clients who loved my photos (which is strictly a 2nd gig for me). Income from photography added a 7d, 5d2 & 5d3 in 2012. So far in 2013 I've added a 100mm macro L is and I have a 135 f2 arriving tomorrow. Still evaluating other lenses to add. Who would have thought I would have been able to do enough gigs to upgrade my kit that drastically in one year? My point, I suppose, is not to worry about what you don't have but to make the best of what you do. Remember, I got all this income based upon people hiring me from the photos they saw from the entry-level kit. Best of luck, Debbie

Walkaround, usually 85 1.8. I like the smaller size compared to my 17-55, which also suffers from a bit of zoom creep if I walk around with it hanging from my neck. By far the majority of my shots have been taken with my 70-200, but that's usually more a case of "I'm going to a sporting event, I'm bringing my camera", and less spontaneous.

My 100-400 is on my 1D IV about 90 percent of the time, but I also do mostly nature (especially owls) photography. A 24-70 (Tamron now, used to be canon) stays on my 5D II unless I am doing macro work.

I honestly don't think I have a single everyday "goto" lens, for the simple reason that I could wind up shooting so many different things.

For now, the closest I've got is the 16-35L or the 50 f/1.4. But both of these leave me wanting more. Much more.

When Canon's 35L and 50L get updated... one of these two will probably become my EDC. Although maybe the Sigma 35mm f/1.4 will work too.

As TrumpetPower expressed, I just don't find that any single lens does a good job of covering the variety of my shots. I definitely favor primes, but Canon's 35L/50L/85L primes all have weaknesses, imo. I tried the 35L and was disappointed. The 50L sounds a bit unreliable. I've got an 85L, but it's too precious/heavy/slow for an everyday carry. The 24L and the 135L are stellar, but not in my EDC focal range.

Picked up a 24-105L f/4 as an every day carry today based off everybody's recommendations here, been building up a set of primes recently for video work and on my latest event shoot ran into a lot of trouble